A US woman who shot and killed her husband and two adult children before taking her own life is thought to have committed the shocking crime as a result of being ostracised from the religion she was raised in.

A federal judge sentenced a former Arkansas judge Wednesday to five years in prison — a stiffer punishment than prosecutors recommended — after he admitted giving young male defendants lighter sentences in return for personal benefits that included sexual favours.

Every time I tell a mate I’m doing a story on cryptocurrency, they invariably ask me the same two questions: should they invest their own hard-earned money, and which cryptocurrency will get them a Lamborghini/yacht/island quickest?

In a 60 Minutes online exclusive, reporter Liz Hayes quizzed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on his relationship with the unpredictable Twitter aficionado and US president Donald Trump ahead of their meeting at the White House Friday.

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Derrick Belan arrived at the Sydney hearing room unshaven, in dark glasses and with a black hoodie pulled over his head.

His barrister told the court her client's doctors would not allow him to leave the hospital unless he was driven by an escort.

After a short private hearing, Mr Belan was released to appear before the commission on November 10.

Mr Belan ran the NUW NSW branch for 14 years after taking over from his late father, Frank Belan in 2001.

He resigned in October, the commission has heard, a week after receiving a summons to appear before it and answer questions about spending on his corporate credit cards that included $39,000 on gifts including Tiffany jewellery, toys and homewares, $12,000 on iTunes, dating sites, lunches and a $432 tattoo.

The commission also heard that the NUW, a union that represents supermarket workers and forklift drivers, paid former NSW Labor MP Paul Gibson more than $270,000 to bring "harmony" to its relationship with the Labor Party.

The NUW also paid tens of thousands of dollars in rent and sponsorships to a gym at St Mary's in Sydney's west, the commission heard.

Gym director Lincoln Hudson was asked why Mr Belan sent $1650 to him via his PayPal account, which the commission has heard was linked to his union credit card,.

Mr Hudson said he could not recall and pointed out that he suffered from a cognitive impairment.